A few photos from Intersection for the Arts opening, In Other Words | More to Follow

This past Wednesday, I went to the opening, In Other Words, at the Intersection for the Arts and snapped a few photos on my phone. I really need to start lugging around my fancy camera. Although mobile devices may come in handy, art (all forms) deserve the prestige that tons of pixels can actually deliver.

One of my art heroes, Christine Wong Yap, was a featured artist in the show. She is one of the artist-writers that gave me the resources and guidance towards art writing. I appreciate her and constantly feel inspired by her work, work ethic, and writing. Her art looks at human behavior related to optimism and pessimism. One of my writing projects includes a lengthier write-up about the show, which is forthcoming. For now, please click here to view more of her work.

Artist: Christine Wong Yap

Here’s a short bio for Christine Wong Yap. Text Source: Artist Website ~ Interested in a full bio, click here

Christine Wong Yap is an interdisciplinary artist working in installations, sculptures, multiples, and works on paper to explore optimism and pessimism. Her work examines the paradox that mundane materials or situations can give rise to irrational expectations, emotions, and experiences. Major touchstones are language, light and dark, and psychology. Her work has been exhibited extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as in New York, Los Angeles, Manila, Osaka, London, Newcastle, and Manchester (U.K.). Born in California, Yap holds a BFA and MFA from the California College of the Arts. A longtime resident of Oakland, CA, she relocated to New York, NY in 2010.

Artist: Susan O’Malley

Susan O’Malley makes you stop and look (and read) and wonder. There’s an interesting dialogue that occurs when you’re confronted with a sign. Typically, signage is up high on some awning or words and images on a billboard but you look. It’s part of our environment. You’re probably thinking, “Why is a sandwich board in a gallery considered art?” Well, the short answer is that it leads to an interaction. From this piece, I learned sandwich boards are prohibited outside of the premises, which O’Malley found interesting considering all the wonderful things happening inside the San Francisco Chronicle building (I’m referring to the placard that explains a bit more about the works).

I am drawn to simple and recognizable tools of engagement—offering a Pep Talk, installing a roomful of inspirational posters, distributing flyers in a neighborhood’s mailbox, conducting a doodle competition at a high school— in order to offer entry into an understood, and sometimes humorous, interaction of everyday life. Ultimately, I am looking for a moment between you and me, a diversion from our lives so that maybe we can understand each other better.

I received an MFA from California College of the Arts’ Social Practice Area. My work has exhibited in Bay Area galleries, including Southern Exposure, Mission 17, Ping Pong Gallery and CCA’s PlaySpace.

8 thoughts on “A few photos from Intersection for the Arts opening, In Other Words | More to Follow”

thanks for this great overview. looking forward to your “more to follow…” well, i’ll be checking this out given i can just jump on the 14/14L … gives me a great reason to leave work earlier than i normally do!

Yes, Shirley! Please check this show out. I wholeheartedly recommend it, especially with your investigations and studies of cubelogy. Seriously, I’m totally willing to go to the exhibition with you. Just let me know and I can stop in with you. Hoping to have my longer blog posting up by the end of the week. Again, let me know when you plan on going, I would love to check out the show when it’s quiet. Always so nice to be around work in silence. 🙂

Christine, you’re very welcome. Thank YOU for all of the inspiration and guidance you’ve given me regarding the arts and writing. I’ve learned so much from you, your work, and your writing. Congratulations on the amazing show at Intersection for the Arts. I’m hoping I can get one of your works some time in the future! Again, many thanks.

After looking at the beautiful, colorful, symmetric petals and what they represent, the eye leads gently Mihaly C. That’s probably the best one I like from what I see. I love boldness and simplicity at the same time. Wow…there’s no doubt she was in the zone…

I just looked at that piece of silver-white parchment with the irregularly cursive writing emerging from the surface (please bear with me because my knowledge of art, design, etc. is practically nil., let alone trying to describe any of it.)

Well anyway, I just had to mention it because, according to what I learned from her father, DOROTHY’S GRANDFATHER did something like that–he wrote several documents for the government, diplomas, etc., all from scratch.

Imagine writing a lengthy document like that. It’s like imagining an artist painting in water color. What happens if you make a boo-boo?

Reminds me of another accomplished artist I met (his work hang in some kind of public institution I don’t recall at the moment) through his exercising wife. Ever since the advent of computer graphics, he’d been jumping for joy.)

Getting back to Dorothy’s grandfather, writing documents like that takes more skill than you know. Amongst other yet unknowns, Dorothy MUST have a piece of THAT in her…

Aw, well, thank you. Ha ha. I think mistakes are a part of the process. I’m going to focus on an aspect of physical handiwork vs. digital handiwork in an upcoming piece (well, it’s related to this particular exhibition). As I mentioned in another comment, I’m hoping to have that piece up by the end of the week.